I, Joseph …, in order to get to my path of excellence, will obtain as much education as possible and will do my best to get good grades.  I will get a job, work hard, and provide for my family.  I will do my best to give service to my family, friends, community and country.  I will listen to and do what my N.O.V.A. officer tells me.  I will have good friends and will be a good friend.  I will be a good example and positive influence on others.  I will exercise and keep my body physically fit.  I will be involved in church and school activities.  I will be a law-abiding citizen.  I will be the best I can be in everything I say and do.  I will have a positive attitude about life, even when bad things may happen to me.  I will avoid cigarettes, tobacco, beer, alcohol, and marijuana.  I will also avoid gangs, criminal activity, and negative friends.  I will avoid using swear words or crude and vulgar language.  I will avoid violent, bad, and obscene TV shows, movies, and video games.   I will avoid bad and obscene music.  I will avoid pornography.  I will avoid having a negative attitude when things in my life go wrong.  I value my family and friends. I value my home, food, clean water, and all the others things that I have.  I value my religion and my education.  I value my country and my freedom and my rights.  I value my health. I value too many things to even be able to list them all, but these are a few.  The N.O.V.A. program has affected me in a very positive way.  It has helped me realize that I need to be more mature.  It has reminded me that life is not just about fun, but it is about hard work and responsibility, too.  And when I put in that work, my life will be better and I will be happier.  What I make out of my life is my choice.  I can’t blame anyone else for my problems or my unhappiness.  I must choose to be happy for myself, and making good choices will lead to my happiness.